Hollow Braid

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Current colour:

DMC code:

About the braid

This braid makes a hollow tube. The braid is easily squashed to make a flat braid, particularly with larger numbers of threads. The diagram above shows how the braid would look if you were able to cut along its length without it falling apart!

How to use the designer

Use the colour picker to choose your thread colour. If you use it on the braid, it will be added to your colour list so you can easily choose it again. Click on the thread you want to colour in the braid diagram.

Some braids allow you to change the number of threads. If available, you can use the "+" and "-" buttons to change the number of threads - active internet connection required.

How to make the braid

To make your braid, set up the threads as shown. The thread movements work the same way as "Hollow 16" on Marudai Painter: Take the left thread of the top pair, and jump the right thread to the next group. Put it to the left of the new group, then take the middle thread of your new group of 3 and jump its right thread to the next group. Repeat this until all the groups are pairs again. Do the same thing with the right hand threads, jumping over the left hand of the pair each time.

Disk instructions

The instructions show a standard 32 slot disk for braids with up to 20 threads. After that, the number of slots is increased so there is always a spare slot between the groups. If you want to make a braid this size, you will either need to make your own disk or hold a thread in your hand while you adjust threads to make space. "Disk 2" on the 16 thread braid may adapt to this better. I haven't done this myself, but in theory it is possible!

Although the instructions look complicated (there are so many diagrams) it is pretty simple. Steps 2-8 are all the same except you are working with a different group of threads each time. You know when it is time to change thread movement because there's no group of 3 (all the threads are in groups of 2 again). Steps 9-16 are almost the same as 1-8, but you are moving threads and turning the disk in the opposite direction.

When you have all the threads in pairs, it doesn't matter which pair starts at the top, just make sure you go round all the threads before you change direction.

I have tried this where instead of making groups of 3, I hold onto the first thread until I have taken the 2nd from it's slot. Although this saves some thread movement, I actually found it harder, and think the tension was poorer.